Top 11 garden design ideas

Garden pergola and seating area
19/01/2022
Categories: Garden Pergolas

When it comes to creating a beautiful garden, there are many factors to consider. Our garden shading experts explore some good starting points if you’re currently designing a new space.

Tailor your garden to suit the needs of your family

When designing the perfect garden, it’s important to consider what you and your family want most out of it. If you have small children or often entertain friends and family with kids, it could be a great idea to create a play area. This could feature swings, a climbing frame, jungle gym, or paddling pool, as well as a stylish storage area for keeping outdoor toys. 

If outdoor entertaining is your thing, you could create a dining area with beautiful garden furniture and even a garden bar and kitchen. Just imagine firing up your outdoor pizza oven and mixing up cocktails in the summer for all your guests.

For a calming space to relax with a good book and a cup of tea, you could consider buying some cosy outdoor sofas, and adding a water feature and soothing plants like lavender.

However you like to enjoy your garden, an outdoor structure like a pergola could be the perfect way to create a nicely shaded hideaway. With the addition of heating, lights, and even glass panels, you can effectively create an extra room. 

Treat the garden as a fifth room

The garden is a valuable extension of your home. As such, there’s no reason why it can’t be treated as a “fifth room”. To transform it into an all-weather space that can be enjoyed all year round, a pergola makes an attractive and practical option. 

Just like in the rest of your home, there’s no need to shy away from soft furnishings in the garden. Outdoor rugs can add a beautiful pop of colour and provide warmth and softness to your space, while your garden sofas can be transformed into relaxing cocoons with soft throws and plump cushions. Just be sure to keep your accessories stored away safely when not in use, to keep them protected from moisture!

Accessories like garden mirrors reflect light and help to make the space feel bigger and brighter, while other finishing touches such as candles (citronella if your garden attracts bugs!), twinkly lights, and small plants dotted around create a homely feel.   

Jazz up your furniture

There are so many wonderful options when it comes to garden furniture, meaning there’s no reason why your outdoor space can’t be as cosy and inviting as the inside of your home. From comfortable sofas and luxurious dining sets to stylish hanging egg chairs and sleek sun loungers, your garden can be every bit as welcoming as the rest of your house. 

Create new zones with hard landscaping, such as a pergola 

Larger gardens can become boring and, sometimes, impractical spaces. Often with big gardens, only a small percentage ends up getting used, which is a shame. Creating distinct zones is a great way to make the most of the area. 

Walls or structures (for example, a pergola) can be useful for marking out different areas that can be used for a variety of activities, such as outdoor dining, sports/children’s games, growing vegetables, or simply enjoying some peace and quiet with a good book! 

Take into consideration which parts of your garden get the most sun during different times of the day, to plan your zones around any potential sun traps – this is especially important if your top priority is having a good spot to sunbathe! 

Gardens with multiple levels offer the opportunity to really get creative, with attractive steps and decking. Raised areas in a garden tend to work really well as a focal point for dining or entertaining. 

Spruce up your lawn

The lawn is a large focal point of most gardens, so an easy way to improve the appearance of your outdoor space is to make sure your grass is lush, healthy and neatly maintained. A lawn that is a good, strong shape is a great starting point to build on. Don’t be afraid to get creative – lawns don’t have to be a perfect rectangle. Playing with different shapes could add real depth and dimension to your space. 

Give your patio a facelift with new paving

If your patio or decking is looking tired and drab, the easiest way to instantly lift and brighten the space is to invest in new paving. There are so many attractive yet durable options, such as Indian sandstone, which come in a range of colours to complement your home. 

Add depth with trees and shrubbery

Mature trees can act as a lovely privacy screen, while helping to filter noise and air pollution if you live near a busy road. They can also be used as an anchor for a hammock, lights, or hanging decorations. The right trees can become a showstopping feature in their own right, providing a beautiful canopy and dappled sunlight. 

With any planting, it’s important to consider your garden’s position, direction, and outlook, to get the best possible results. The same goes for if you plan to use an area of your garden for growing food. 

When it comes to planting beds and borders, planning ahead is key. Think about the colours you like and which time of year you want your flowers to be in bloom, then choose your plants accordingly. Selecting some that offer year-round colour will mean that your garden will retain its vibrancy – no dull, lacklustre flower beds to worry about! 

Install the tech you need

Just as you’ve kitted out your home with the tech you need, why not equip your garden with some of the essentials?

Speakers. If you use your garden as a prime spot for entertaining, it could be worth fitting proper outdoor speakers, to take your sound system to the next level. These can be connected to your home sound system (for example, a Sonos), so you can enjoy a seamless flow of music as you move from inside to the garden. 

Kitchen equipment. If building a kitchen garden is your goal, it’s a good idea to think about what you want to get out of it. A small fridge could be a nice idea for drinks and nibbles, or you might want a gas hob ring for cooking up delicious al fresco meals. 

Lawncare. One of the keys to keeping your garden looking beautiful is maintenance. Any tools that make this process easier, such as an automated sprinkler system, will take the stress out of keeping your garden looking its best. 

Provide a haven for local wildlife

It’s a nice idea to consider how your garden design will have an impact on wildlife. You could include bee-friendly plants, hang a bird feeder from your tree, or even create a bee hotel or hedgehog hideaway. All of these ideas are becoming increasingly popular and the RSPB has plenty of useful resources to help you get started. 

Create a living feature wall

Living walls (essentially walls that are covered in plants) are extremely popular at the moment. They embrace vertical planting to create a stunning feature that is sure to wow your guests. Just as you would with your border, it’s important to choose the right plants for that part of the garden, as well as ones that will provide you with year-round colour. 

Choose effective lighting

Great lighting will not only allow you to enjoy your garden long after the sun has gone down, but will create a lovely atmosphere as well. Garden structures, such as a pergola from Broadview, can also be fitted with built-in lights, meaning you can get maximum enjoyment from your outdoor space.

Consider lining your pathways with solar lanterns, putting fairy lights in trees, and adorning large spaces with festoon lights. You’ll be amazed at the transformation! 

Speak to our garden experts

We’ve worked in the patio and garden shading industry for over 50 years, so we know a thing or two about great garden design. To speak to one of our experts and find out how a pergola could transform your garden, please get in touch with us today on 01202 679012.